senior moment
An older man has a senior moment and forgets where he put his reading glasses.
Noun: A temporary, brief episode of forgetfulness or mental confusion, typically associated with or humorously attributed to the cognitive effects of aging.
This term is used informally, often in a light-hearted or self-deprecating way, to describe a common, minor instance of forgetfulness, such as forgetting a name, why one entered a room, or where one placed an object. While it humorously references older adults ("senior"), it is frequently used by people of various ages.
- "I just had a senior moment—I walked into the kitchen and completely forgot what I needed."
- "Don't worry about forgetting his name; we all have senior moments sometimes."
- She laughed and called it a senior moment when she couldn't find her keys, which were in her hand.
The term can be used in a compound adjective form, though the core term remains "senior moment." * "a senior-moment kind of day": A day marked by several minor lapses in memory or focus. * It's been a real senior-moment kind of day; I've misplaced my glasses twice already.
- Brain fart (slang, informal): A very informal, sometimes vulgar synonym for a sudden mental lapse or failure to recall something.
- Memory lapse: A more formal, neutral term for a temporary failure of memory.
- Mental blank
- Temporary forgetfulness
- Lapse of memory
- "To have a blank": To experience a temporary inability to remember something.
- I had a complete blank when I saw the test question.
- "To draw a blank": To fail to get an answer or result, especially when trying to remember something.
- I tried to recall her phone number, but I drew a blank.
An older man has a senior moment and forgets where he put his reading glasses.
- a momentary lapse of memory (especially in older people)